Read & explore together
Wisdom is obedience, not manipulative cleverness
Sirach 19:20–30 contrasts true wisdom with the sort of cleverness that ignores God’s ways. It shows that reverence, obedience, and honest character matter more than intelligence used for wrongdoing.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In this part of Sirach, wisdom is defined by fearing the Lord and doing the law. The passage then contrasts that with wicked knowledge, unjust subtlety, and deceitful behaviour. It ends by noting that a person’s face, clothing, laughter, and walk can reveal what he is.
Sirach 19:20–30Main takeaway
Sirach 19:20–30 teaches that wisdom is obedient reverence before God, not manipulative cleverness or lawbreaking intelligence.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Wisdom is fear of the Lord and doing the lawThe passage begins with a clear definition. “All wisdom” is connected with “the fear of the Lord”, and wisdom includes “the doing of the law”.
Explanation
The passage begins with a clear definition. “All wisdom” is connected with “the fear of the Lord”, and wisdom includes “the doing of the law”. In these verses, wisdom is not just mental ability. It is reverence for God expressed in obedient action.
02Wicked skill does not deserve the name wisdomSirach rejects the idea that successful evil is wise. “The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom”, and “the prudence of sinners is not counsel”.
Explanation
Sirach rejects the idea that successful evil is wise. “The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom”, and “the prudence of sinners is not counsel”. Verse 23 adds that wickedness can be an abomination, while a fool lacks wisdom. Clever wrongdoing and true wisdom are not the same.
03Reverence is better than intelligence that breaks the lawVerse 24 makes a direct comparison. A person with little understanding who fears God is better than one with much intelligence who transgresses the law.
Explanation
Verse 24 makes a direct comparison. A person with little understanding who fears God is better than one with much intelligence who transgresses the law. Sirach places greater value on faithful obedience than on impressive intellect. Intelligence without obedience still fails this test of wisdom.
04Deceit can hide behind subtle and outward signalsThe final sayings describe unjust subtlety and hidden deceit. A person may bend favour to gain judgment, act mournful, lower the face, or pretend not to hear, yet still plan harm if given the chance.
Explanation
The final sayings describe unjust subtlety and hidden deceit. A person may bend favour to gain judgment, act mournful, lower the face, or pretend not to hear, yet still plan harm if given the chance. Sirach then says appearance, face, attire, laughter, and walk can show what a person is.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two things does verse 20 join together in its definition of wisdom?
Use the exact wording of the verse: it connects wisdom with fearing the Lord and with doing the law.
02How does verse 24 compare a God-fearing person with a highly intelligent lawbreaker?
Notice which person Sirach calls better, and base your answer on fear of God versus transgressing the law.
03Which outward behaviours in verses 25–30 are linked with deceit or with showing what a person is?
List the details named in the passage, including posture, pretence, face, attire, laughter, and walk.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 19:20
20All wisdom is the fear of the Lord. In all wisdom is the doing of the law.
Sirach 19:22–30
22The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom. The prudence of sinners is not counsel.
23There is a wickedness, and it is an abomination. There is a fool lacking in wisdom.
24Better is one who has little understanding, and fears God, than one who has much intelligence and transgresses the law.
25There is an exquisite subtlety, and it is unjust. And there is one who perverts favor to gain a judgment.
26There is one who does wickedly, who hangs down his head with mourning; but inwardly he is full of deceit,
27bowing down his face, and pretending to be deaf in one ear. Where he isn’t known, he will take advantage of you.
28And if for lack of power he is hindered from sinning, if he finds opportunity, he will do mischief.
29A man will be known by his appearance. One who has understanding will be known by his face when you meet him.
30A man’s attire, grinning laughter, and the way he walks show what he is.
Source passages
Source: Sirach 19 ↗Translation and source notes
Some verse numbers are represented by textual notes in World English Bible Classic. The reading below follows the text printed in the main passage.